Apparatus to reverse wave momentum

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to reverse the momentum of large waves. The apparatus includes a primary body having an upper surface, a first face and a second face. The first face and the second face are spaced from one another by a hollow space located below the upper surface. The first face includes an array of ports arranged to receive and transmit water into and out of the hollow space. The first face is curvilinear to deflect and divert water of incoming waves and, with water exiting the hollow space, reverse the momentum of following water. The apparatus is configured to minimizes or eliminate the harm to humans and the destruction of property experienced as a result of tsunami waves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus to reduce or prevent the destruction caused by large waves. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wall structure configured to reverse the momentum of waves to direct them away from sensitive areas.

2. Description of the Prior Art

While ocean waves occur on a substantial and regular basis, there are rare instances when extraordinary ones occur. Examples of instances when such extraordinary waves occur in a way that significantly adversely impacts humans are when tsunamis reach land. Recent instances of such events in Indonesia and Japan are well known. Those particular situations resulted in horrific devastation and tremendous loss of life. It will take many years and great expenditures to repair the destruction, if ever. The loss of human life cannot be replaced. An added concern to the landed tsunami in Japan was the extensive damage to a nuclear power plant. The harm and fear caused by that event may be difficult to measure.

These extraordinary waves build quickly in the deep ocean and race outwardly from their origin, which is usually an earthquake of significant magnitude. The volume of water displaced by the earthquake is great and that displacement moves very quickly, something on the order of hundreds of miles per hour. The water level increase is relatively modest at the wave's origin, but as it approaches shallows leading to land, the wave reaches heights far exceeding the height of common waves and far exceeding any type of jetty or other form of wave break that may exist at or near land. Tsunami waves can reach heights of thirty feet or greater.

Given the extent of damage that can occur in a matter of moments under the load and force of an extraordinary wave, what is needed is a mechanism for protecting people and infrastructure, such as buildings, power plants and roadways, in the likely paths of such waves. In particular, what is needed is an apparatus to reduce or prevent the destruction that can be caused by such large waves. Further, what is needed is an apparatus configured to dissipate the energy of such large waves before they reach people and infrastructure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for protecting people and infrastructure in the likely paths of large potentially destructive waves. In particular, it is an object to provide an apparatus to reduce or prevent the destruction that can be caused by such large waves. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus configured to dissipate the energy of such large waves before they reach people and infrastructure.

These and other objects are achieved by the present invention, which is a flow diverting structure referred to herein as a reverse momentum wall. The reverse momentum wall is a structure positioned about at the water's edge, such as at or near a low tide water mark. It extends outwardly from its center substantially matching the coastline for a selectable distance, including for miles. A first face of the structure faces toward the ocean and a second opposing face of the structure faces toward land. A hollow space is located between the two faces where water can be contained and turned back against itself. The water so contained and diverted in an opposing direction opposes additional incoming water and absorbs some of the energy of that incoming water, thereby reducing its momentum.

The reverse momentum wall is configured on the first face to divert the water of a large wave downwardly so that the energy at the upper level of the wave is consumed by gravity as the water moves downwardly. The first face includes an inclined or curved arrangement that causes tangential movement of the wave as it first makes contact with the first face. The first face further includes a plurality of ports arranged to allow a portion of the incoming water to travel into the space within the wall between the two faces and to allow that water entering a portion of the ports to exit the wall through others of the ports.

The reverse momentum wall reduces and redirects the momentum of an incoming wave by forcing the wave to consume its energy overcoming gravity and overcoming opposing returning water from that wave. The result is an apparatus that prevents or reduces large wave impact on people and infrastructure, thereby saving both from loss. These and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon review of the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with a partial cross section of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of one set of ports of the apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A reverse momentum apparatus 10 of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4. The apparatus 10 is a double curvilinear structure having an upper surface 12, a first face 14, a second face 16 and a primary body 18. The primary body is fabricated of a material sufficient to withstand regular contact with ocean water and of sufficient strength to withstand the load of common waves and extraordinary waves, including waves associated with tsunamis. The primary body 18 may be fabricated of concrete, metal, nonmetallic materials or combinations thereof. The primary body 18 includes a hollow space 20 established between the upper surface 12, the first face 14 and the second face 16. The apparatus 10 may include structural members extending from the primary body 18 into the underlying substrate 22 to secure the apparatus in place when located in water. Alternatively, the apparatus 10 may have a base 24 of sufficient dimensions to maintain the stability of the apparatus in its established location under all conditions experienced.

The upper surface 12 may be curved or flat as shown in the drawings. If flat or having a modest curve, the upper surface 12 may be used as a passageway, such as a roadway or other form that enables the movement of people and materials. The upper surface 12 may include one or more drainage ports 26 arranged to enable the flow of water from on the upper surface 12 into the hollow space 20. Street lights 28 may also be deployed on the upper surface 12 when the upper surface 12 is used as a passageway. It may also include guardrails 30. This arrangement allows for human viewing of the ocean while also providing the large wave reverse momentum function of the apparatus 10.

The first face 14 extends from edge 32 of the upper surface 12 downwardly with an inward curve from that location so that the first face 14 is a concave curve when viewed from the ocean. Chord 34 representing a line from the edge 32 to the underlying substrate 22 may be substantially perpendicular with respect to the substrate 22 or it may differ from that angle. The concave nature of the first face is intended to retain water moving toward the apparatus 10 to remain contained below the upper surface 12. For that reason, in order to ensure that no wave exceeds the height of the apparatus 10, the height of the apparatus from the base 24 to the upper surface 12 represented by chord 34 may be established based on the local conditions where the apparatus 10 is placed, but should be no less than 100 feet.

The second face 16 extends from edge 36 of the upper surface 12 downwardly with an outward curve from that location so that the second face 16 is a convex curve when viewed from the land behind the apparatus 10 and substantially matching the inward curve of the first face 14. In the preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10 shown in the drawings, the apparatus 10 appears to be a partial annulus capped by the upper surface 12 and the substrate 22. Alternatively, the second face 16 does not have to be configured as a convex curve matching the first face 14. Instead, it may be of a different convex curvature, it may also be concave arrangement mirroring the first face 14, or it may be substantially straight. The selection of the configuration of the second face is a function of its location, the substrate 22, the land behind the apparatus 10 and cost.

The first face 14 includes an array of reverse momentum ports 40, wherein a portion of the ports are located in a lower region 42 of the first face 14, a portion are located in a middle region 44 of the first face 14, and a portion are located in an upper region 46 of the first face 14. The ports 40 are sized and arranged to enable a portion of the water of a wave approaching the apparatus 10 to enter the hollow space 20. Similarly, the ports 40 are sized and arranged to enable water within the hollow space 20 to exit the hollow space 20 through the ports when water recedes from the apparatus 10. It is contemplated that in a large wave event, water will enter the hollow space 20 through ports 40 of the lower region 42, rise within the hollow space 20 until reaching the ports 40 of the middle region 44 and possibly the ports of the upper region 46, where it then exits the hollow space 20 and falls onto water below. That is, the concave curved primary body 18 and the ports 40 in combination, redirect the flow of the water and convert wave energy passing in one direction (toward land) into wave energy passing downwardly by gravity and in a reverse direction (back toward the ocean). The result is that the water returned by the ports 40 of regions 44 and 46 generates a load that the incoming water must handle. That effort reduces the energy of the following water, thereby reducing its speed and height so that its destructive power is diminished. The apparatus 10 is fabricated with sufficient structural integrity and size that it will be able to handle the largest waves to be experienced and will be able to reverse the momentum of the energy of such waves a plurality of times.

The apparatus 10 of the present invention is sized and positioned to prevent tsunami waves from harming people and infrastructure. While it may have a negative impact on ocean scenery, it may be configured to minimize that negative impact without sacrificing functionality. In any case, there may be locations and instances where the threat of great harm is too much to sacrifice safety for scenery. The apparatus 10 provides such safety in a manner that has not heretofore been contemplated. It is to be understood that various modifications may be made to the apparatus described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

1. An apparatus to reverse the momentum of large waves, the apparatus comprising: a. a primary body having an upper surface and adapted for placement on a substrate at or near an ocean shoreline; b. a first face of the primary body with a concave curvature extending downwardly from the upper surface, terminating at the base and configured to face incoming water of the large waves; and c. a second face of the primary body spaced from the first face to establish a hollow space therebetween, wherein the first face includes an array of ports adapted to enable the passage of water into and out of the hollow space.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the primary body further includes a base and wherein the dimensions of the hollow space is defined by the upper surface, the base, the first face and the second face.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first face includes a lower region, a middle region and a lower region, and wherein the ports are located in each region of the first face.
 4. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein ports of the lower region are primarily adapted to receive water into the hollow space and ports of the middle region and the upper region are adapted primarily to exhaust water from the hollow space.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second face has a convex curvature extending downwardly from the upper surface, terminating at the base and configured to face land.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper surface includes a travel passageway.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the primary body is made of concrete.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distance between the upper surface and the substrate when the apparatus is positioned on the substrate is at least 100 feet. 